Comfort, Security and Sustainability

digitalSTROM is a simple method of connecting electrical appliances. Electricity consumption becomes visible and measurable. Simultaneously increasing security and comfort.

An ant-size chip makes all this possible: Mounted directly into the devices or in an adapter plug, it lets the devices communicate with one another. The system works over the existing 230 V mains. Installation only takes a few easy steps. digitalSTROM devices mediate between power generation and power consumption. The digitalSTROM chip lowers the standby consumption of electrical appliances from the typical 3 to 5 watts to under 0.3 watt. Devices only use power when it is really necessary. Simultaneously the power consumption of individual devices becomes visible. A simple traffic light system indicates unusually high power consumption. A small red lamp indicates unwanted operation or defective devices. A worn refrigerator seal is recognized and can be repaired by an expert just as quickly as a dripping water tap. digitalSTROM helps to reduce electricity consumption thanks to the extensive transparency.

Fewer buttons, more comfort

digitalSTROM is above all a comfort system: Networked devices can be controlled over any switch in a room, various light moods called-up with a keystroke, blinds raised and lowered, even the stereo system can be controlled over a conventional light switch. The credo of the system, is "fewer buttons, more comfort" which makes reading an instruction manual pointless. When conventional switches aren't sufficient, you can install digitalSTROM switches, which are equipped with a LED. A common colour system indicates what is being controlled. The colours change when you click the switch. And when that is not enough, you can set-up complex configurations with a standard browser.

digitalSTROM uses open protocols and can be easily integrated with the Internet. For this a small server is installed in the fuse box. Controlling devices with a mobile telephone or PDA in the house or while on the road is thereby quickly becoming viable and affordable. In the future the question Òis the iron at home really switched off?Ó will no longer need to be asked when you arrive in the office. And if in doubt, it can be checked and turned off with a click.

Informed timing and lower bills

Often a lot of power is used at the same time, e.g. around midday, when many stoves are being used. Why must the refrigerator also cool at the same time? A message from the household's electricity provider such as “please note, the power will be more expensive in one hour” can tell a refrigerator equipped with digitalSTROM to cool beforehand and use no power when it is in short supply and expensive. In this way peak loads on electricity mains are smoothed and the user profits from the favourable electricity rate.

Data protection and reliability

digitalSTROM devices only communicate with one another within an electric circuit. The signals are not visible outside of this circuit. Therefore they cannot be intercepted. Since the technology is not based on frequency modulation, other Powerline systems in the same circuit are not affected by digitalSTROM. Internet functions are designed into the system and each device receives a unique identification, a kind of bar code or IP address. However, they only become usable over the internet after the installation of a small digitalSTROM server (dSS). And even then the data sovereignty is always in the hands of the user. The user determines what is visible outside of the circuit, for example what an electricity provider sees. Billing is possible if the user releases certain data, just like we are used to with cellular providers: The energy consumption of each device becomes transparent.

The use of Internet technology has many advantages: It is second to none in price, efficient, reliable and runs circles around other technologies. In respect to data protection, user friendliness and ease of installation, digital STROM is custom tailored for the needs of private households.